Thursday, August 7th: Laurel & Hardy Double Feature (1930s)

Englishman Stan Laurel and American Oliver Hardy were cornerstones of 1930s and 40s American comedy films, as famous for their slapstick, stylized physical comedy as they were for their signature bowler hats and opposing physiques. They appeared in 107 films together over three decades, successfully making the jump from silent films to “talkies,” in part because the actors’ theatrical backgrounds meant they were already comfortable with spoken dialogue. Laurel and Hardy utilized catchphrases, the best-known being, “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!” and “Why don’t you do something to help me?” The actor James Finlayson, who appeared in 33 Laurel and Hardy films, used a variation of “D’oh!,” an exclamation expressing surprise, embarrassment, or impatience, that was the predecessor to the trademark “D’oh!” of character Homer Simpson in the long-running animated comedy The Simpsons.